LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Purple Heart medals have been awarded to the family of an Arkansas soldier who was killed and to another soldier who was wounded in a shooting outside of a Little Rock Army-Navy recruiting center in 2009.

The awards presented during a ceremony Monday at the Arkansas State Capitol followed a six-year fight to honor the men.

Pvt. William Long of Conway was killed and Pvt. Quinton Ezeagwula (EEZ'-uh-gway-luh) of Jacksonville was wounded when Abdulhakim Muhammad opened fire on them as they entered the recruiting station. Muhammad received a life sentence.

The Purple Hearts follow a change in federal law allowing the honor for military members killed or wounded in an attack on American soil that was carried out by a foreign terrorist organization or targeted them for their military service.